Rock (1950s) (Reference)

The reference list includes records that have been obtained and/or rated (in blue) as well as many other records that have been recommended from various sources.


Johnny Ace (1929–54)

Faye Adams

Hasil Adkins (1936– )

Lee Allen (1926–94)

Paul Anka (1941– )

Frankie Avalon (1939– )

Gus Backus

Mickey Baker (1925– )

LaVern Baker (1929–97)

Hank Ballard (1936– )

Dave Bartholomew (1920–2019)

The Belmonts

Jesse Belvin (1933–60)

Boyd Bennett (1925– )

Brook Benton (1931–88)

Chuck Berry (1926–2017)

Richard Berry (1935–97)

The Big Bopper (1930–59)

Otis Blackwell (1931–2002)

Pat Boone (1934– )

James Brown (1933–2006)

Nappy Brown (1929– )

Roy Brown (1925– )

Ruth Brown (1928–2006)

Sonny Burgess (1931– )

Dorsey Burnette (1932–79)

Johnny Burnette (1934–64)

The Cadillacs

Ray Campi

Wynona Carr (1924–76)

The Champs [1957– ]

The Channels [1956– ]

The Chantels [1956–1970]

Bobby Charles (1938– )

Ray Charles (1930–2004)

Chubby Checker (1941– )

Jimmy Clanton (1940– )

Dee Clark (1938–90)

Petula Clark (1932– )

The Cleftones

The Clovers [1948– ]

The Coasters [1956–1972]

Eddie Cochran (1938–60)

The Collins Kids [1958– ]

Sam Cooke (1931–64)

Cookie and the Cupcakes

The Crests [1956– ]

The Crew Cuts

The Crickets

The Cues

Bobby Darin (1936–73)

Ronnie Dawson (1939– )

Bobby Day (1932–90)

The Del Vikings

The Dells [1952– ]

Sugar Pie DeSanto (1935– )

Bo Diddley (1928–2008)

Dion DiMucci (1937– )

Fats Domino (1928–2017)

The Dominoes

Don and Dewey

Lonnie Donegan (1931–2002)

The Drifters [1953– ]

Jack Earls

Duane Eddy (1938– )

Tommy Edwards (1922–69)

Willie Egan (1933–2004)

Esquerita

Paul Evans

The Everly Brothers [1954–1973]

Fabian (1943– )

The Falcons

The Five Keys

The "5" Royales [1952–1965]

The Flamingos [1952– ]

Frankie Ford (1939– )

The Four Freshmen [1956– ]

Connie Francis (1938– )

Billy Fury (1941–83)

The Gaylords [1956– ]

Paul Gayten (1920–91)

Charlie Gracie (1936– )

Bonnie Guitar (1924–2019)

Bill Haley (1925–81)

Roy Hamilton (1929–69)

Wynonie Harris (1915–69)

Wilbert Harrison (1929–94)

Dale Hawkins (1938– )

Ronnie Hawkins (1935– )

Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1929–2000)

Clarence "Frogman" Henry (1937–2024)

Chuck Higgins (1924– )

The Hilltoppers

Buddy Holly (1936–59)

The Hollywood Flames [1952–1959]

Joe Houston

The Impacts

The Isley Brothers [1954– ]

Bullmoose Jackson (1919–89)

Jan and Dean [1958–1966]

Little Willie John (1937–68)

Ella Johnson (1923– )

Buddy Knox (1933–99)

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935–2022)

Smiley Lewis (1913–66)

Jimmy Liggins (1922–83)

Joe Liggins (1915–87)

Little Anthony and the Imperials [1958– ]

Little Richard (1935–2020)

Darlene Love (1941– )

Nellie Lutcher (1915–2007)

Frankie Lymon (1942–68)

Johnny Maestro

The Marcels

Bobby Marchan (1930–99)

Janis Martin (1940– )

Marvin and Johnny

Big Maybelle (1924–72)

Percy Mayfield (1920–84)

Clyde McPhatter (1932–72)

Mickey and Sylvia [1956–1965]

The Moonglows [1951– ]

Rick Nelson (1940–85)

Art Neville (1937–2019)

Roy Orbison (1936–88)

The Orioles [1948–1957]

The Paragons

Mike Pedicin (1917– )

Carl Perkins (1932–98)

Esther Phillips (1935–84)

The Platters [1953– ]

Johnny Powers

Elvis Presley (1935–77)

Lloyd Price (1933–2021)

The Prisonaires

Red Prysock (1926–93)

The Ravens [1946–1956]

Cliff Richard (1940– )

Billy Lee Riley (1933–2009)

Jimmie Rodgers (1933–2021)

Chan Romero

Ronny and the Daytonas

Bobby Rydell (1942– )

Doug Sahm (1941–99)

Neil Sedaka (1939– )

The Shirelles [1958– ]

Shirley and Lee [1951–1963]

Huey "Piano" Smith (1934–2023)

Warren Smith (1933–80)

The Spaniels

Phil Spector (1941– )

The Spiders [1953–1957]

Billy Stewart (1937–70)

Barrett Strong (1941– )

Allen Toussaint (1938–2015)

The Treniers

Ike Turner (1931– )

Big Joe Turner (1911–85)

Ritchie Valens (1941–59)

The Videls

Gene Vincent (1935–71)

Billy Ward and the Dominoes (1921– )

Johnny "Guitar" Watson (1935–96)

Lenny Welch (1938– )

Larry Williams (1935–80)

Chuck Willis (1928–58)

Jackie Wilson (1934–84)

Link Wray (1929–2005)

Various Artists


Introduction